{Fast and loose}, now cohering, now disjoined; inconstant,
esp. in the phrases to play at fast and loose, to play
fast and loose, to act with giddy or reckless inconstancy
or in a tricky manner; to say one thing and do another.
``Play fast and loose with faith.'' --Shak.

{Fast and loose pulleys} (Mach.), two pulleys placed side by
side on a revolving shaft, which is driven from another
shaft by a band, and arranged to disengage and re["e]ngage
the machinery driven thereby. When the machinery is to be
stopped, the band is transferred from the pulley fixed to
the shaft to the pulley which revolves freely upon it, and
vice versa.

hard-and-fast — UK US (also hard and fast) adjective ► definite and not to be changed, avoided, or ignored: »hard and fast deadlines/plans/guidelines hard and fast evidence/facts/answers »With whale research, hard and fast facts are difficult to come by. »There… … Financial and business terms

hard-and-fast — adjective 1. ) not able to be changed: hard and fast rules/regulations 2. ) clear and not able to be questioned: hard and fast distinctions … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

hard-and-fast — hard′ and fast′ adj. strongly binding; not to be set aside or violated: hard and fast rules[/ex] • Etymology: 1865–70 hard′ and fast′ness, n … From formal English to slang

hard-and-fast — adj [only before noun] clear, definite, and always able to be used ▪ It is impossible to give hard and fast rules , but here are some points to consider … Dictionary of contemporary English

hard and fast — ADJ: usu with brd neg, usu ADJ n If you say that there are no hard and fast rules, or that there is no hard and fast information about something, you are indicating that there are no fixed or definite rules or facts. There are no hard and fast… … English dictionary